US20130073885A1 - Power supplying control apparatus, management control apparatus, image processing apparatus, and computer readable storage medium - Google Patents
Power supplying control apparatus, management control apparatus, image processing apparatus, and computer readable storage medium Download PDFInfo
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- US20130073885A1 US20130073885A1 US13/473,346 US201213473346A US2013073885A1 US 20130073885 A1 US20130073885 A1 US 20130073885A1 US 201213473346 A US201213473346 A US 201213473346A US 2013073885 A1 US2013073885 A1 US 2013073885A1
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- power
- memory
- information
- reference signal
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/26—Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof
- G06F1/32—Means for saving power
- G06F1/3203—Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
- G06F1/3206—Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
- G06F1/3231—Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/26—Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof
- G06F1/32—Means for saving power
- G06F1/3203—Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
- G06F1/3234—Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
- G06F1/325—Power saving in peripheral device
- G06F1/3284—Power saving in printer
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/00885—Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
- H04N1/00888—Control thereof
- H04N1/00891—Switching on or off, e.g. for saving power when not in use
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/00912—Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
- H04N1/00933—Timing control or synchronising
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
- H04N1/32358—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter
- H04N1/32443—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter with asynchronous operation of the image input and output devices connected to the memory
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
- H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
- H04N2201/0094—Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
- H04N2201/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
- H04N2201/3285—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter
- H04N2201/3298—Checking or indicating the storage space
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
- Y02D10/00—Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
- Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
- Y02D30/50—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a power supplying control apparatus, a management control apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and a computer readable storage medium.
- a power-saving function has been typically featured in an image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus, and an image processing apparatus as a combination thereof.
- a communication process such as a process including data writing and data reading, requested from a terminal apparatus (a host apparatus or a personal computer (PC)) connected to those apparatus via a communication line network in a mutually communicable fashion remains unexecuted in one of those apparatuses for a predetermined period of time or longer, the apparatus automatically transitions into a power-saving state in which supplied power is limited to a minimum.
- the terminal apparatus may also be referred to as a host apparatus or a PC
- the communication line network may also be referred to as a network
- the communication process may also be referred to as an access.
- a power supplying control apparatus includes a transition unit and a determining unit.
- the transition unit causes a control apparatus to transition to one of a power supplied state that causes power to be supplied and a power shutoff state that shuts off the supplying of power.
- the control apparatus includes a first memory control unit including a reference signal generator generating a reference signal serving as a reference of a control operation.
- the first memory control unit writes information to or reads information from a first memory in response to the reference signal.
- the control apparatus also includes a communication line network control unit that controls communications with a communication line network, and includes a second memory that temporarily stores information, serving as a buffer between a transmission and reception speed of information from the communication line network and a processing speed of the first memory control unit operating in response to the reference signal.
- the determining unit determines a transition target of the transition unit in accordance with a first time period and a second time period, the first time period having a length of time beyond which no further memory space is available from the second memory, and thus being determined by the transmission and reception speed of the information to the communication line network and the storage capacity of the second memory, the second time period being so long as to enable the information stored on the second memory in the power shutoff state to be stored on the first memory via the first memory control unit.
- FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication line network including an image processing apparatus in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the image processing apparatus of the first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of a central controller of the first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 4 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller of FIG. 3 in a sleep mode in with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (with PLL off);
- FIG. 5 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller of FIG. 3 in a sleep mode with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (with PLL on);
- FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of a startup of the central controller in the sleep mode at data reception in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the central controller of a second exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 8 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller of FIG. 7 with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (low-capacity buffer);
- FIG. 9 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller of FIG. 7 with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (high-capacity buffer);
- FIG. 10 is a control block diagram of a central controller of a third exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 11 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller of FIG. 10 with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (with a transmission buffer unused);
- FIG. 12 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller of FIG. 10 with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (with the transmission buffer used).
- An image processing apparatus 10 of a first exemplary embodiment is connected to a communication line network 12 such as the Internet as illustrated in FIG. 1 . As illustrated in FIG. 1 , two image processing apparatuses 10 are connected to the communication line network 12 . The number of image processing apparatuses 10 is not limited to two. One image processing apparatus 10 may be connected, or three or more image processing apparatuses 10 may be connected.
- Multiple host computers (personal computer (PC)) 14 may be connected as an information terminal apparatus to the communication line network 12 . As illustrated in FIG. 1 , two host computers 14 are connected to the communication line network 12 . The number of connected host computers 14 is not limited to two. One host computer 14 may be connected, or three or more host computers 14 may be connected. The host computer 14 is not necessarily connected to the communication line network 12 via a wired connection. A communication line network that wirelessly exchanges information may be used to connect the host computer 14 to the communication line network 12 .
- the image processing apparatus 10 may receive image data and an instruction to perform an image forming (printing) process from a remote host computer 14 .
- a user may stand in front of the image processing apparatus 10 and perform a variety of operations to instruct the image processing apparatus 10 , including a copying process, a scanning process (image reading), a facsimile transmission and reception process.
- FIG. 2 illustrates the image processing apparatus 10 of the first exemplary embodiment.
- the image processing apparatus 10 includes an image forming unit 16 that forms an image on a recording paper sheet, an image reading unit 18 that reads a document image, and a facsimile communication controller 20 .
- the image processing apparatus 10 includes a central controller 22 .
- the central controller 22 controls the image forming unit 16 , the image reading unit 18 , and the facsimile communication controller 20 .
- the central controller 22 temporarily stores image data read from the document image by the image reading unit 18 , and transfers the read image data to one of the image forming unit 16 and the facsimile communication controller 20 .
- the central controller 22 is connected to the communication line network 12 such as the Internet.
- the facsimile communication controller 20 is connected to a telephone line network 24 .
- the central controller 22 is connected to the host computer 14 (see FIG. 1 ) via the communication line network 12 .
- the central controller 22 receives image data from the host computer 14 .
- the central controller 22 further performs a facsimile reception operation and a facsimile transmission operation via the telephone line network 24 using the facsimile communication controller 20 .
- the image reading unit 18 includes a document platen that allows an original document to be placed in alignment, a scanning driving system that scans an image of the original document placed on the document platen with a light beam, and a photo-electric conversion device, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD), which receives light that is reflected from or passes through the original document through the scanning of the scanning driving system.
- a photo-electric conversion device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD)
- the image forming unit 16 includes a photoconductor.
- the image forming unit 16 includes a charging module, a scanning-exposure module, an image development module, a transfer module, and a cleaning module.
- the charging module uniformly charges the photoconductor.
- the scanning-exposure module causes a light beam to scan in accordance with the image data.
- the image development module develops into an image an electrostatic latent image formed through scanning-exposure by the scanning-exposure module.
- the transfer module transfers the image developed on the photoconductor to a recording paper sheet.
- the cleaning module cleans the surface of the photoconductor subsequent to a transfer operation.
- a fixing module that fixes the transferred image on the recording paper sheet is arranged on the conveyance path of the recording paper sheets.
- the image processing apparatus 10 has an input power cord 26 with a plug 28 at one end thereof.
- the plug 28 is inserted into a wall socket 32 of a commercial power source 30 at a wall W, and the image processing apparatus 10 is supplied with power from the commercial power source 30 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates a hardware configuration of the central controller 22 as a control system of the image processing apparatus 10 .
- the central controller 22 includes a physical layer (PHY) 50 as a device (IC chip) functioning as a communication interface.
- the PHY 50 connects a cable 52 (100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T, or the like) to the central controller 22 and converts a received logical signal into an actual electrical signal.
- the cable 52 serves as a lead-in wire connected to the image processing apparatus 10 in the communication line network 12 .
- the PHY 50 directly connects the physical cable 52 to the communication line network 12 .
- the PHY 50 may include a wireless device.
- the PHY 50 is connected to a central processing unit (CPU) 54 of the central controller 22 .
- the CPU 54 includes CPU core controller 56 , network controller 58 , and memory controller 60 , interconnected in a mutually communicable fashion.
- the memory controller 60 in the CPU 54 is connected to a system memory 64 via a memory bus 62 A.
- the CPU core controller 56 is connected to a read-only memory (ROM) 66 via a ROM bus 62 B.
- the CPU core controller 56 is also connected to an image processing LSI 68 .
- the image processing LSI 68 controls a processor (device) connected to the image processing apparatus 10 .
- the image processing LSI 68 is connected to image forming unit 16 , image reading unit 18 , facsimile communication controller 20 , user interface (UI) touchpanel 30 , and hard disk drive (HDD) 70 .
- the UI touchpanel 30 includes a power-saving control button 36 .
- An operation signal of the power-saving control button 36 is sent to a power-saving controller 72 connected to the ROM bus 62 B.
- the power-saving controller 72 is one of the elements continuously supplied with power.
- the devices are not limited to those described above, and may include a IC card reader.
- the power-saving controller 72 partially suspends the functions of the image processing apparatus 10 so that the image processing apparatus 10 consumes minimum power. For example, the supplying of power to most of the central controller 22 may be occasionally stopped. These power shutoff operations may generally be referred to as a “sleep mode (power-saving mode).”
- the power-saving control button 36 may be operated by a user. If the power-saving control button 36 is operated when the image processing apparatus 10 is in a normal power supplied state, the power-saving controller 72 causes some elements and devices including the power-saving controller 72 itself to transition into the sleep mode in which the power supplying is shut off.
- the power-saving controller 72 causes the devices in the sleep mode to transition back into the normal power supplied state.
- the sleep mode may be started by a system timer that is activated when an image processing process ends. More specifically, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the system timer, the power supplying is shut off. If any operation (such as a hardware key operation) is performed even before the predetermined period of time elapses, the timer counting to the sleep mode is forced to stop. The system timer is started at the end of a next image processing process.
- Triggers starting or exiting the sleep mode include not only the operation of the power-saving control button 36 and the starting of the system timer, but also an operation of a human presence sensor 38 .
- the human presence sensors 38 include a pyroelectric detection sensor 38 A and the reflective-type detection sensor 38 B, different from each other in terms of relative detection range.
- the power-saving controller 72 is connected to the pyroelectric detection sensor 38 A and the reflective-type detection sensor 38 B. If one of the pyroelectric detection sensor 38 A and the reflective-type detection sensor 38 B detects the presence of a human, the power-saving controller 72 causes the central controller 22 to exit the sleep mode before the power-saving control button 36 is operated by the user. The user may thus use the image processing apparatus 10 early.
- the power-saving control button 36 is included while the human presence sensor 38 is optional. Alternatively, the human presence sensor 38 alone may be included for monitoring.
- a detection coverage region of the pyroelectric detection sensor 38 A (region F of FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is set to be wider than a detection coverage region of the reflective-type detection sensor 38 B (region N of FIG. 1 ).
- the pyroelectric detection sensor 38 A is continuously powered during the sleep mode.
- the power-saving controller 72 starts to power the reflective-type detection sensor 38 B. If the reflective-type detection sensor 38 B detects the user, some or all devices in the image processing apparatus 10 are set to exit the sleep mode. If the moving object remains undetected until after the elapse of a predetermined period of time from the start of power supplying to the reflective-type detection sensor 38 B, the power supplying to the reflective-type detection sensor 38 B is shut off.
- the CPU core controller 56 performs a CPU function. In accordance with a predetermined program, the CPU core controller 56 controls the operation of the network controller 58 , and the memory controller 60 . The CPU core controller 56 also controls the image processing LSI 68 , thereby controlling the operation of the devices connected to the image processing apparatus 10 (including the image forming unit 16 , the image reading unit 18 , the facsimile communication controller 20 , the UI touchpanel 30 , and the hard disk drive 70 ).
- the network controller 58 includes a reception buffer (RX_FIFO) 74 that buffers a communication speed difference during reception, and a transmission buffer (TX_FIFO) 76 that buffers a communication speed difference during transmission.
- the reception buffer 74 may also be referred to as a buffer 74 operative during reception, and the transmission buffer 76 may also be referred to as a buffer 76 operative during transmission.
- the network controller 58 is connected to the PHY 50 , and exchanges data (such as image data) with the host computer 14 connected to the communication line network 12 .
- the memory controller 60 includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit 78 and is connected to the system memory 64 .
- the memory controller 60 receives data received by the network controller 58 and then stores the data onto the system memory 64 , or transfers data stored on the system memory 64 to the network controller 58 .
- the memory controller 60 exchanges data not only with the network controller 58 but also with the hard disk drive 70 and the image processing LSI 68 .
- a processing speed difference occurs between the data exchanging of the memory controller 60 with the system memory 64 and the data exchanging of the network controller 58 with the communication line network 12 .
- the network controller 58 receives data (such as image data) from the host computer 14 (the communication line network 12 ) via the PHY 50 , and stores the data onto the reception buffer 74 while transferring the data to the memory controller 60 on a first-in first-out (FIFO) basis.
- the network controller 58 also stores data (such as image data) received from the memory controller 60 onto the transmission buffer 76 while transmitting the data to the host computer 14 (the communication line network 12 ) via the PHY 50 on a FIFO basis.
- each block has the function thereof while each block is independently supplied with or shut off from power during the sleep mode.
- targets to be shut off from power during the sleep mode are denoted by hatched blocks, and include the CPU core controller 56 , the PLL circuit 78 in the memory controller 60 , the ROM 66 , the image processing LSI 68 , and the devices (including the image forming unit 16 , the image reading unit 18 , the UI touchpanel 30 , and the hard disk drive 70 ).
- the definition of the power shutoff of the PLL circuit 78 refers to the suspension of the operation thereof (with the oscillation operation thereof suspended). More specifically, in response to a power shutoff instruction, the PLL circuit 78 is continuously supplied with power but suspends the operation thereof (with the oscillation operation suspended) with no or minimum power consumed.
- the blocks (unhatched blocks in FIG. 4 ) other than the above-described blocks are continuously supplied with power even during the sleep mode.
- the network controller 58 quickly responds to a print instruction from a remote host computer 14 .
- the power-saving controller 72 monitors the operational state of the power-saving control button 36 and the moving object detection state of the human presence sensor 38 .
- the network controller 58 When the network controller 58 receives the data from the host computer 14 via the communication line network 12 , the data are temporarily stored on the system memory 64 . Since the PLL circuit 78 in the memory controller 60 is in the power shutoff state during the sleep mode, the system memory 64 is unable to store the data until the PLL circuit 78 resumes the operation thereof.
- the system memory 64 has a self-refreshing function. More specifically, the system memory 64 becomes operative in response to the reception of a self-refreshing release instruction signal that is output by the memory controller 60 after the PLL circuit 78 resumes the operation thereof from the sleep mode.
- a rise time follows the reception of the self-refreshing release instruction signal. The rise time is different depending on the type of the system memory (double data rate 2 (DDR2) SDRAM or DDR3 SDRAM).
- the first exemplary embodiment is based on the premise that the central controller 22 receives data from the host computer 14 during the sleep mode.
- the control mechanism of the central controller 22 during or at the exit of the sleep mode is set up in accordance with condition parameters 1 through 4 automatically determined by an existing system configuration.
- Condition parameter 1 Storage capacity RX (KB) of the reception buffer 74
- Condition parameter 2 Link speed LS (Mbit) of a communication line determined by the cable 52 and the like connected to the PHY 50
- Condition parameter 3 Time from when the PLL circuit 78 starts to access the system memory 64 to when the PLL circuit 78 resumes the operation thereof (rise time) tPLL ( ⁇ s)
- Condition parameter 4 Time from when the system memory 64 receives the self-refreshing release instruction signal to when the system memory 64 resumes the operation thereof (rise time) tSR ( ⁇ s).
- time tFULL the reception buffer 74 takes before reaching the full state thereof is calculated by equation (1):
- Time tSM ( ⁇ s) the system memory 64 takes to resume the operation is determined by the condition parameter 3 and the condition parameter 4 as represented by equation (2):
- tSM ( ⁇ s) tPLL ( ⁇ s)+ tSR ( ⁇ s).
- condition parameter 2 varies depending on the environment and configuration of the communication line network 12 where the image processing apparatus 10 is installed.
- the sleep mode is set up such that time tSM ( ⁇ s) calculated by equation (2) is shorter than time tFULL calculated by equation (1) as represented by equation (3):
- the storage capacity of the reception buffer 74 is not excessively increased from the standpoint that both the power-saving feature and convenience are pursued at the same time.
- An increase in the storage capacity of the reception buffer 74 leads to a bulky structure in physical design (more memory cells).
- a sacrifice involved in the implementation of the power-saving feature is minimized during the sleep mode by determining whether the condition of equation (3) is satisfied or not.
- the PLL circuit 78 consumes a large amount of power among the elements forming the central controller 22 .
- the PLL circuit 78 is desirably shut off from power during the sleep mode (see FIG. 4 ).
- time tPLL rise time
- time tSM the system memory 64 takes to resume the operation.
- Whether or not to supply the PLL circuit 78 with power is determined in comparison with time tFULL before the reception buffer 74 becomes full.
- the determination result in FIG. 5 indicates that the PLL circuit 78 is to be supplied with power.
- the image processing apparatus 10 transitions into the sleep mode if no operation is performed.
- at least the power-saving controller 72 is supplied with power.
- the image processing apparatus 10 transitions into a warmup mode.
- the rise triggers may include a signal or information responsive to the detection results of a second human presence sensor 30 .
- the operation of the power-saving control button 36 by the user may also serve as a rise trigger.
- the warmup mode consumes a maximum amount of power in order to cause the image processing apparatus 10 to be back quickly to a process enable state.
- an infrared heater if used in the fixing module, renders a warmup mode time shorter than a halogen lamp heater.
- the image processing apparatus 10 Upon completing a warmup operation in the warmup mode, the image processing apparatus 10 transitions into a standby mode.
- the standby mode is a ready-to-operate mode.
- the image processing apparatus 10 is enabled to perform the image processing process immediately.
- the image processing apparatus 10 transitions into a running mode, and performs the image processing process in response to the specified job.
- the image processing apparatus 10 transitions into the standby mode in response to a standby trigger.
- the system timer starts counting subsequent to the end of the image processing process
- the standby trigger is output after the elapse of a predetermined period of time, and the image processing apparatus 10 transitions into the standby mode.
- the image processing apparatus 10 transitions back into the running mode again. If a fall trigger is detected, or if a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the image processing apparatus 10 transitions into the sleep mode.
- the fall triggers may include a signal or information responsive to the detection results of the second human presence sensor 30 .
- the system timer may also be used in combination with the fall trigger.
- the transitions of the modes of the image processing apparatus 10 are not necessarily performed as in the time series order described herein.
- the image processing apparatus 10 may quit a process in the standby mode subsequent to the warmup mode, and may then transition into the sleep mode.
- the image processing apparatus 10 transitions into the sleep mode.
- the sleep mode power supplying is shut off to the central controller 22 and the devices (including the image forming unit 16 , the image reading unit 18 , the UI touchpanel 30 , and the hard disk drive 70 ) other than the facsimile communication controller 20 in the image processing apparatus 10 .
- the memory controller 60 is supplied with power during the sleep mode. However, whether or not to supply power to the PLL circuit 78 that consumes power most is determined during the sleep mode in response to the result of equation (3) calculated in accordance with the conditions parameters 1 through 4.
- whether or not to supply power to the PLL circuit 78 in the memory controller 60 is determined in the transition into the sleep mode based on the condition parameter 1 that is the storage capacity RX of the reception buffer 74 and the condition parameter 2 that is the link speed LS of the communication line network 12 gotten from a register in the PHY 50 .
- Equation (3) If the result indicates that equation (3) holds, power is shut off to the PLL circuit 78 as illustrated in FIG. 4 when the image processing apparatus 10 is transitioned into the sleep mode. If equation (3) does not hold, power is continuously supplied to the PLL circuit 78 as illustrated in FIG. 5 when the image processing apparatus 10 transitions into the sleep mode.
- equation (3) indicates that tFULL>tSM holds as described with reference to a timing diagram of FIG. 6 , and thus equation (3) holds. Data are reliably stored on the system memory 64 in response to the reception of the data via the communication line network 12 even if the PLL circuit 78 is shut off from power during the sleep mode.
- solution tFULL ( ⁇ s) of equation (1) is as follows:
- equation (3) indicates that tFULL ⁇ tSM holds as described with reference to the timing diagram of FIG. 6 , and equation (3) does not hold.
- the PLL circuit 78 is not shut off from power and remains continuously supplied with power.
- the central controller 22 includes the memory controller 60 and the network controller 58 .
- the memory controller 60 including the PLL circuit 78 that generates a clock signal, controls writing information to and reading information from the system memory 64 in accordance with the clock signal.
- the network controller 58 controls exchanging of information between the memory controller 60 and the communication line network 12 and includes the reception buffer 74 that temporarily stores the information.
- the central controller 22 may receive the information via the communication line network 12 during the sleep mode.
- Whether to continue or shut off supplying power to the PLL circuit 78 during the sleep mode is predetermined by referencing time tFULL the reception buffer 74 takes before reaching the full state thereof, and time tSM the system memory 64 takes before being enable to store the information stored on the reception buffer 74 . This arrangement controls reception delay.
- a second exemplary embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 9 .
- elements identical to those described with reference to the first exemplary embodiment are designated with the same reference numerals, and the discussion thereof is omitted.
- the PLL circuit 78 is desirably in a power shutoff state during the sleep mode because the PLL circuit 78 consumes high power among the elements forming the central controller 22 (see FIGS. 8 and 9 ).
- time tPLL rise time
- time tSM the system memory 64 takes to resume the operation thereof.
- the PLL circuit 78 is shut off from power during the sleep mode or the oscillation operation thereof is suspended during the sleep mode.
- Multiple reception buffers 74 A and 74 B different in storage capacity may be arranged.
- the first reception buffer 74 A, and the second reception buffer 74 B may be used alone or in combination in accordance with the link speed LS of the communication line determined by the cable 52 connected to the PHY 50 .
- the feature of the second exemplary embodiment is that the PLL circuit 78 in the memory controller 60 is shut off from power or stops oscillating when the image processing apparatus 10 transitions into the sleep mode.
- the network controller 58 includes two reception buffers 74 A and 74 B.
- the first reception buffer 74 A has a storage capacity RX(A) of 2 KB.
- the second reception buffer 74 B has a storage capacity RX of 16 KB. Those buffers are supplied with or shut off from power independent of each other.
- condition parameter 1 that is the storage capacity RX of the reception buffer 74 and the condition parameter 2 that is the link speed LS of the communication line network 12 gotten from the register in the PHY 50 .
- the data reception via the communication line network 12 is not affected during the sleep mode even with the second reception buffer 74 B shut off from power in the transition into the sleep mode as illustrated in FIG. 8 . If equation (3) does not hold, the second reception buffer 74 B is continuously supplied with power in the transition into the sleep mode as illustrated in FIG. 9 .
- the first reception buffer 74 A is shut off from power. Alternatively, the first reception buffer 74 A may be continuously supplied with power.
- Equation (3) indicates that tFULL>tSM holds as described with reference to the timing diagram of FIG. 6 .
- the use of the second reception buffer 74 B is unnecessary, and the second reception buffer 74 B is shut off from power in the transition into the sleep mode. If data are received via the communication line network 12 during the sleep mode, the system memory 64 is enabled to store the data even with the PLL circuit 78 shut off from power.
- equation (3) indicates that tFULL ⁇ tSM holds as described with reference to the timing diagram of FIG. 6 , and equation (3) does not hold.
- Time tFULL is recalculated using the storage capacity RX(B) of the second reception buffer 74 B.
- the determination of equation (3) indicates that tFULL>tSM holds.
- the second reception buffer 74 B is supplied with power in the transition into the sleep mode. If data are received via the communication line network 12 , the system memory 64 is enabled to store the data even with the PLL circuit 78 shut off from power. The first reception buffer 74 A may be shut off from power.
- a third exemplary embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 10 through 12 .
- elements identical to those described with reference to the first embodiment are designated with the same reference numerals, and the discussion thereof is omitted.
- the PLL circuit 78 is desirably to be set in a power shutoff state during the sleep mode because the PLL circuit 78 consumes high power among the elements forming the central controller 22 (see FIGS. 11 and 12 ).
- time tPLL rise time
- time tSM the system memory 64 takes to resume the operation thereof.
- the PLL circuit 78 is shut off from power during the sleep mode or the oscillation operation thereof is suspended during the sleep mode.
- the transmission buffer 76 may be used as a second reception buffer temporarily in order to render time tFULL longer than time tFULL of the single reception buffer 74 .
- the feature of the third exemplary embodiment is that the PLL circuit 78 in the memory controller 60 is shut off from power or the oscillation operation thereof is suspended in the transition into the sleep mode.
- a switching circuit 80 is connected downstream of the transmission buffer 76 and upstream of the reception buffer 74 , both arranged in the network controller 58 , and a switching circuit 82 is connected to downstream of the reception buffer 74 and upstream of the transmission buffer 76 .
- the transmission buffer 76 is thus used as a reception buffer storage unit as appropriate.
- the reception buffer 74 has a storage capacity RX of 2 KB.
- the transmission buffer 76 has a storage capacity TX of 16 KB. Those buffers are supplied with or shut off from power independent of each other.
- condition parameter 1 that is the storage capacity RX of the reception buffer 74 and the condition parameter 2 that is the link speed LS of the communication line network 12 gotten from the register in the PHY 50 .
- equation (3) If the determination result indicates that equation (3) holds, the data reception via the communication line network 12 is not affected during the sleep mode even with the transmission buffer 76 shut off from power in the transition into the sleep mode as illustrated in FIG. 11 . If equation (3) does not hold, the transmission buffer 76 is continuously supplied with power in the transition into the sleep mode as illustrated in FIG. 12 .
- Equation (3) indicates that tFULL>tSM holds as described with reference to the timing diagram of FIG. 6 .
- the use of the transmission buffer 76 is unnecessary, and the transmission buffer 76 is shut off from power in the transition into the sleep mode. If data are received via the communication line network 12 during the sleep mode, the system memory 64 is enabled to store the data even with the PLL circuit 78 shut off from power.
- equation (3) indicates that tFULL ⁇ tSM holds as described with reference to the timing diagram of FIG. 6 , and equation (3) does not hold.
- Time tFULL is recalculated using the storage capacity TX of the transmission buffer 76 (to be used as the storage capacity RX).
- the determination of equation (3) indicates that tFULL>tSM holds.
- the transmission buffer 76 is supplied with power in the transition into the sleep mode. If data are received via the communication line network 12 , the system memory 64 is enabled to store the data even with the PLL circuit 78 shut off from power. The reception buffer 74 may be shut off from power.
Abstract
Description
- This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-202397 filed Sep. 15, 2011.
- (i) Technical Field
- The present invention relates to a power supplying control apparatus, a management control apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and a computer readable storage medium.
- (ii) Related Art
- In related art, a power-saving function has been typically featured in an image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus, and an image processing apparatus as a combination thereof. For example, if a communication process, such as a process including data writing and data reading, requested from a terminal apparatus (a host apparatus or a personal computer (PC)) connected to those apparatus via a communication line network in a mutually communicable fashion remains unexecuted in one of those apparatuses for a predetermined period of time or longer, the apparatus automatically transitions into a power-saving state in which supplied power is limited to a minimum.
- In the discussion that follows, the terminal apparatus may also be referred to as a host apparatus or a PC, the communication line network may also be referred to as a network, and the communication process may also be referred to as an access.
- According to an aspect of the invention, a power supplying control apparatus is provided. The power supplying control apparatus includes a transition unit and a determining unit. The transition unit causes a control apparatus to transition to one of a power supplied state that causes power to be supplied and a power shutoff state that shuts off the supplying of power. The control apparatus includes a first memory control unit including a reference signal generator generating a reference signal serving as a reference of a control operation. The first memory control unit writes information to or reads information from a first memory in response to the reference signal. The control apparatus also includes a communication line network control unit that controls communications with a communication line network, and includes a second memory that temporarily stores information, serving as a buffer between a transmission and reception speed of information from the communication line network and a processing speed of the first memory control unit operating in response to the reference signal. The determining unit determines a transition target of the transition unit in accordance with a first time period and a second time period, the first time period having a length of time beyond which no further memory space is available from the second memory, and thus being determined by the transmission and reception speed of the information to the communication line network and the storage capacity of the second memory, the second time period being so long as to enable the information stored on the second memory in the power shutoff state to be stored on the first memory via the first memory control unit.
- Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication line network including an image processing apparatus in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the image processing apparatus of the first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of a central controller of the first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 4 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller ofFIG. 3 in a sleep mode in with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (with PLL off); -
FIG. 5 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller ofFIG. 3 in a sleep mode with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (with PLL on); -
FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of a startup of the central controller in the sleep mode at data reception in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the central controller of a second exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 8 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller ofFIG. 7 with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (low-capacity buffer); -
FIG. 9 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller ofFIG. 7 with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (high-capacity buffer); -
FIG. 10 is a control block diagram of a central controller of a third exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 11 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller ofFIG. 10 with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (with a transmission buffer unused); and -
FIG. 12 is a control block diagram illustrating the central controller ofFIG. 10 with a power supplied section thereof discriminated from a power shutoff section thereof (with the transmission buffer used). - An
image processing apparatus 10 of a first exemplary embodiment is connected to acommunication line network 12 such as the Internet as illustrated inFIG. 1 . As illustrated inFIG. 1 , twoimage processing apparatuses 10 are connected to thecommunication line network 12. The number ofimage processing apparatuses 10 is not limited to two. Oneimage processing apparatus 10 may be connected, or three or moreimage processing apparatuses 10 may be connected. - Multiple host computers (personal computer (PC)) 14 may be connected as an information terminal apparatus to the
communication line network 12. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , twohost computers 14 are connected to thecommunication line network 12. The number of connectedhost computers 14 is not limited to two. Onehost computer 14 may be connected, or three ormore host computers 14 may be connected. Thehost computer 14 is not necessarily connected to thecommunication line network 12 via a wired connection. A communication line network that wirelessly exchanges information may be used to connect thehost computer 14 to thecommunication line network 12. - As illustrated in
FIG. 1 , theimage processing apparatus 10 may receive image data and an instruction to perform an image forming (printing) process from aremote host computer 14. Alternatively, a user may stand in front of theimage processing apparatus 10 and perform a variety of operations to instruct theimage processing apparatus 10, including a copying process, a scanning process (image reading), a facsimile transmission and reception process. -
FIG. 2 illustrates theimage processing apparatus 10 of the first exemplary embodiment. - The
image processing apparatus 10 includes animage forming unit 16 that forms an image on a recording paper sheet, animage reading unit 18 that reads a document image, and afacsimile communication controller 20. Theimage processing apparatus 10 includes acentral controller 22. Thecentral controller 22 controls theimage forming unit 16, theimage reading unit 18, and thefacsimile communication controller 20. Thecentral controller 22 temporarily stores image data read from the document image by theimage reading unit 18, and transfers the read image data to one of theimage forming unit 16 and thefacsimile communication controller 20. - The
central controller 22 is connected to thecommunication line network 12 such as the Internet. Thefacsimile communication controller 20 is connected to atelephone line network 24. Thecentral controller 22 is connected to the host computer 14 (seeFIG. 1 ) via thecommunication line network 12. Thecentral controller 22 receives image data from thehost computer 14. Thecentral controller 22 further performs a facsimile reception operation and a facsimile transmission operation via thetelephone line network 24 using thefacsimile communication controller 20. - The
image reading unit 18 includes a document platen that allows an original document to be placed in alignment, a scanning driving system that scans an image of the original document placed on the document platen with a light beam, and a photo-electric conversion device, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD), which receives light that is reflected from or passes through the original document through the scanning of the scanning driving system. - The
image forming unit 16 includes a photoconductor. Around the photoconductor, theimage forming unit 16 includes a charging module, a scanning-exposure module, an image development module, a transfer module, and a cleaning module. The charging module uniformly charges the photoconductor. The scanning-exposure module causes a light beam to scan in accordance with the image data. The image development module develops into an image an electrostatic latent image formed through scanning-exposure by the scanning-exposure module. The transfer module transfers the image developed on the photoconductor to a recording paper sheet. The cleaning module cleans the surface of the photoconductor subsequent to a transfer operation. A fixing module that fixes the transferred image on the recording paper sheet is arranged on the conveyance path of the recording paper sheets. - The
image processing apparatus 10 has aninput power cord 26 with aplug 28 at one end thereof. Theplug 28 is inserted into awall socket 32 of acommercial power source 30 at a wall W, and theimage processing apparatus 10 is supplied with power from thecommercial power source 30. -
FIG. 3 illustrates a hardware configuration of thecentral controller 22 as a control system of theimage processing apparatus 10. - The
central controller 22 includes a physical layer (PHY) 50 as a device (IC chip) functioning as a communication interface. ThePHY 50 connects a cable 52 (100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T, or the like) to thecentral controller 22 and converts a received logical signal into an actual electrical signal. Thecable 52 serves as a lead-in wire connected to theimage processing apparatus 10 in thecommunication line network 12. - The
PHY 50 directly connects thephysical cable 52 to thecommunication line network 12. Alternatively, thePHY 50 may include a wireless device. - The
PHY 50 is connected to a central processing unit (CPU) 54 of thecentral controller 22. TheCPU 54 includesCPU core controller 56,network controller 58, andmemory controller 60, interconnected in a mutually communicable fashion. - The
memory controller 60 in theCPU 54 is connected to asystem memory 64 via amemory bus 62A. TheCPU core controller 56 is connected to a read-only memory (ROM) 66 via aROM bus 62B. TheCPU core controller 56 is also connected to animage processing LSI 68. - The
image processing LSI 68 controls a processor (device) connected to theimage processing apparatus 10. Theimage processing LSI 68 is connected to image formingunit 16,image reading unit 18,facsimile communication controller 20, user interface (UI)touchpanel 30, and hard disk drive (HDD) 70. TheUI touchpanel 30 includes a power-savingcontrol button 36. An operation signal of the power-savingcontrol button 36 is sent to a power-savingcontroller 72 connected to theROM bus 62B. The power-savingcontroller 72 is one of the elements continuously supplied with power. - The devices are not limited to those described above, and may include a IC card reader.
- The power-saving
controller 72 partially suspends the functions of theimage processing apparatus 10 so that theimage processing apparatus 10 consumes minimum power. For example, the supplying of power to most of thecentral controller 22 may be occasionally stopped. These power shutoff operations may generally be referred to as a “sleep mode (power-saving mode).” - The power-saving
control button 36 may be operated by a user. If the power-savingcontrol button 36 is operated when theimage processing apparatus 10 is in a normal power supplied state, the power-savingcontroller 72 causes some elements and devices including the power-savingcontroller 72 itself to transition into the sleep mode in which the power supplying is shut off. - If the power-saving
control button 36 is operated with theimage processing apparatus 10 in the sleep mode, the power-savingcontroller 72 causes the devices in the sleep mode to transition back into the normal power supplied state. - The sleep mode may be started by a system timer that is activated when an image processing process ends. More specifically, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the system timer, the power supplying is shut off. If any operation (such as a hardware key operation) is performed even before the predetermined period of time elapses, the timer counting to the sleep mode is forced to stop. The system timer is started at the end of a next image processing process.
- Triggers starting or exiting the sleep mode include not only the operation of the power-saving
control button 36 and the starting of the system timer, but also an operation of ahuman presence sensor 38. Thehuman presence sensors 38 include apyroelectric detection sensor 38A and the reflective-type detection sensor 38B, different from each other in terms of relative detection range. - The power-saving
controller 72 is connected to thepyroelectric detection sensor 38A and the reflective-type detection sensor 38B. If one of thepyroelectric detection sensor 38A and the reflective-type detection sensor 38B detects the presence of a human, the power-savingcontroller 72 causes thecentral controller 22 to exit the sleep mode before the power-savingcontrol button 36 is operated by the user. The user may thus use theimage processing apparatus 10 early. In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, the power-savingcontrol button 36 is included while thehuman presence sensor 38 is optional. Alternatively, thehuman presence sensor 38 alone may be included for monitoring. - A detection coverage region of the
pyroelectric detection sensor 38A (region F ofFIGS. 1 and 2 ) is set to be wider than a detection coverage region of the reflective-type detection sensor 38B (region N ofFIG. 1 ). Thepyroelectric detection sensor 38A is continuously powered during the sleep mode. When a moving object is detected by thepyroelectric detection sensor 38A, the power-savingcontroller 72 starts to power the reflective-type detection sensor 38B. If the reflective-type detection sensor 38B detects the user, some or all devices in theimage processing apparatus 10 are set to exit the sleep mode. If the moving object remains undetected until after the elapse of a predetermined period of time from the start of power supplying to the reflective-type detection sensor 38B, the power supplying to the reflective-type detection sensor 38B is shut off. - The
CPU core controller 56 performs a CPU function. In accordance with a predetermined program, theCPU core controller 56 controls the operation of thenetwork controller 58, and thememory controller 60. TheCPU core controller 56 also controls theimage processing LSI 68, thereby controlling the operation of the devices connected to the image processing apparatus 10 (including theimage forming unit 16, theimage reading unit 18, thefacsimile communication controller 20, theUI touchpanel 30, and the hard disk drive 70). - The
network controller 58 includes a reception buffer (RX_FIFO) 74 that buffers a communication speed difference during reception, and a transmission buffer (TX_FIFO) 76 that buffers a communication speed difference during transmission. Thereception buffer 74 may also be referred to as abuffer 74 operative during reception, and thetransmission buffer 76 may also be referred to as abuffer 76 operative during transmission. - The
network controller 58 is connected to thePHY 50, and exchanges data (such as image data) with thehost computer 14 connected to thecommunication line network 12. - The
memory controller 60 includes a phase-locked loop (PLL)circuit 78 and is connected to thesystem memory 64. Thememory controller 60 receives data received by thenetwork controller 58 and then stores the data onto thesystem memory 64, or transfers data stored on thesystem memory 64 to thenetwork controller 58. Thememory controller 60 exchanges data not only with thenetwork controller 58 but also with thehard disk drive 70 and theimage processing LSI 68. - A processing speed difference occurs between the data exchanging of the
memory controller 60 with thesystem memory 64 and the data exchanging of thenetwork controller 58 with thecommunication line network 12. - The
network controller 58 receives data (such as image data) from the host computer 14 (the communication line network 12) via thePHY 50, and stores the data onto thereception buffer 74 while transferring the data to thememory controller 60 on a first-in first-out (FIFO) basis. Thenetwork controller 58 also stores data (such as image data) received from thememory controller 60 onto thetransmission buffer 76 while transmitting the data to the host computer 14 (the communication line network 12) via thePHY 50 on a FIFO basis. - Referring to
FIG. 3 , the control system of theimage processing apparatus 10 has been discussed on a per block basis. The discussion focuses on thecentral controller 22. Each block has the function thereof while each block is independently supplied with or shut off from power during the sleep mode. - As illustrated in
FIG. 4 , targets to be shut off from power during the sleep mode are denoted by hatched blocks, and include theCPU core controller 56, thePLL circuit 78 in thememory controller 60, theROM 66, theimage processing LSI 68, and the devices (including theimage forming unit 16, theimage reading unit 18, theUI touchpanel 30, and the hard disk drive 70). - The definition of the power shutoff of the
PLL circuit 78 refers to the suspension of the operation thereof (with the oscillation operation thereof suspended). More specifically, in response to a power shutoff instruction, thePLL circuit 78 is continuously supplied with power but suspends the operation thereof (with the oscillation operation suspended) with no or minimum power consumed. The oscillation suspended state allows thePLL circuit 78 to start up earlier, in particular with tPLL=100 μs, than the power shutoff state does. - The blocks (unhatched blocks in
FIG. 4 ) other than the above-described blocks are continuously supplied with power even during the sleep mode. For example, thenetwork controller 58 quickly responds to a print instruction from aremote host computer 14. As described above, the power-savingcontroller 72 monitors the operational state of the power-savingcontrol button 36 and the moving object detection state of thehuman presence sensor 38. - When the
network controller 58 receives the data from thehost computer 14 via thecommunication line network 12, the data are temporarily stored on thesystem memory 64. Since thePLL circuit 78 in thememory controller 60 is in the power shutoff state during the sleep mode, thesystem memory 64 is unable to store the data until thePLL circuit 78 resumes the operation thereof. - The
system memory 64 has a self-refreshing function. More specifically, thesystem memory 64 becomes operative in response to the reception of a self-refreshing release instruction signal that is output by thememory controller 60 after thePLL circuit 78 resumes the operation thereof from the sleep mode. A rise time follows the reception of the self-refreshing release instruction signal. The rise time is different depending on the type of the system memory (double data rate 2 (DDR2) SDRAM or DDR3 SDRAM). - The first exemplary embodiment is based on the premise that the
central controller 22 receives data from thehost computer 14 during the sleep mode. In the first exemplary embodiment, the control mechanism of thecentral controller 22 during or at the exit of the sleep mode is set up in accordance withcondition parameters 1 through 4 automatically determined by an existing system configuration. - Condition parameter 1: Storage capacity RX (KB) of the
reception buffer 74 - Condition parameter 2: Link speed LS (Mbit) of a communication line determined by the
cable 52 and the like connected to thePHY 50 - Condition parameter 3: Time from when the
PLL circuit 78 starts to access thesystem memory 64 to when thePLL circuit 78 resumes the operation thereof (rise time) tPLL (μs) - Condition parameter 4: Time from when the
system memory 64 receives the self-refreshing release instruction signal to when thesystem memory 64 resumes the operation thereof (rise time) tSR (μs). - If the
condition parameter 1 and thecondition parameter 2 are determined, time tFULL thereception buffer 74 takes before reaching the full state thereof is calculated by equation (1): -
tFULL(μs)={RX(KB)×8}/LS(Mbit). (1) - Time tSM (μs) the
system memory 64 takes to resume the operation is determined by the condition parameter 3 and the condition parameter 4 as represented by equation (2): -
tSM(μs)=tPLL(μs)+tSR(μs). (2) - In comparison with the
condition parameters 1, 3, and 4, thecondition parameter 2 varies depending on the environment and configuration of thecommunication line network 12 where theimage processing apparatus 10 is installed. - In the first exemplary embodiment, the sleep mode is set up such that time tSM (μs) calculated by equation (2) is shorter than time tFULL calculated by equation (1) as represented by equation (3):
-
tFULL(μs)>tSM(μs). (3) - In the first exemplary embodiment, the storage capacity of the
reception buffer 74 is not excessively increased from the standpoint that both the power-saving feature and convenience are pursued at the same time. An increase in the storage capacity of thereception buffer 74 leads to a bulky structure in physical design (more memory cells). - In the first exemplary embodiment, a sacrifice involved in the implementation of the power-saving feature is minimized during the sleep mode by determining whether the condition of equation (3) is satisfied or not.
- More specifically, whether or not to supply the
PLL circuit 78 with power during the sleep mode is set. - The
PLL circuit 78 consumes a large amount of power among the elements forming thecentral controller 22. To increase the power-saving effect, thePLL circuit 78 is desirably shut off from power during the sleep mode (seeFIG. 4 ). However, time tPLL (rise time) from when thePLL circuit 78 starts to access thesystem memory 64 to when thePLL circuit 78 resumes the operation thereof greatly affects time tSM thesystem memory 64 takes to resume the operation. - Whether or not to supply the
PLL circuit 78 with power is determined in comparison with time tFULL before thereception buffer 74 becomes full. The determination result inFIG. 5 indicates that thePLL circuit 78 is to be supplied with power. - The features of the first exemplary embodiment are described below.
- The
image processing apparatus 10 transitions into the sleep mode if no operation is performed. In the first exemplary embodiment, at least the power-savingcontroller 72 is supplied with power. - If any rise trigger is input, the
image processing apparatus 10 transitions into a warmup mode. - The rise triggers may include a signal or information responsive to the detection results of a second
human presence sensor 30. The operation of the power-savingcontrol button 36 by the user may also serve as a rise trigger. - Among the modes, the warmup mode consumes a maximum amount of power in order to cause the
image processing apparatus 10 to be back quickly to a process enable state. For example, an infrared heater, if used in the fixing module, renders a warmup mode time shorter than a halogen lamp heater. - Upon completing a warmup operation in the warmup mode, the
image processing apparatus 10 transitions into a standby mode. - The standby mode is a ready-to-operate mode. The
image processing apparatus 10 is enabled to perform the image processing process immediately. - In response to a job execution operation entered as a key input, the
image processing apparatus 10 transitions into a running mode, and performs the image processing process in response to the specified job. - When the image processing process is complete (when all the jobs are completed if multiple consecutive jobs have been on standby), the
image processing apparatus 10 transitions into the standby mode in response to a standby trigger. Alternatively, the system timer starts counting subsequent to the end of the image processing process, the standby trigger is output after the elapse of a predetermined period of time, and theimage processing apparatus 10 transitions into the standby mode. - If a job execution instruction is provided during the standby mode, the
image processing apparatus 10 transitions back into the running mode again. If a fall trigger is detected, or if a predetermined period of time has elapsed, theimage processing apparatus 10 transitions into the sleep mode. - The fall triggers may include a signal or information responsive to the detection results of the second
human presence sensor 30. The system timer may also be used in combination with the fall trigger. - The transitions of the modes of the
image processing apparatus 10 are not necessarily performed as in the time series order described herein. For example, theimage processing apparatus 10 may quit a process in the standby mode subsequent to the warmup mode, and may then transition into the sleep mode. - As described above, if the predetermined period of time has elapsed with no job to be processed at hand, the
image processing apparatus 10 transitions into the sleep mode. During the sleep mode, power supplying is shut off to thecentral controller 22 and the devices (including theimage forming unit 16, theimage reading unit 18, theUI touchpanel 30, and the hard disk drive 70) other than thefacsimile communication controller 20 in theimage processing apparatus 10. - In the
central controller 22 during the sleep mode, power is shut off to theCPU core controller 56 and theROM 66 in thecentral controller 22 but thenetwork controller 58 remains continuously supplied with power because thenetwork controller 58 is to be ready to receive data via thecommunication line network 12. - In principle, the
memory controller 60 is supplied with power during the sleep mode. However, whether or not to supply power to thePLL circuit 78 that consumes power most is determined during the sleep mode in response to the result of equation (3) calculated in accordance with theconditions parameters 1 through 4. - In the first exemplary embodiment, whether or not to supply power to the
PLL circuit 78 in thememory controller 60 is determined in the transition into the sleep mode based on thecondition parameter 1 that is the storage capacity RX of thereception buffer 74 and thecondition parameter 2 that is the link speed LS of thecommunication line network 12 gotten from a register in thePHY 50. - If the result indicates that equation (3) holds, power is shut off to the
PLL circuit 78 as illustrated inFIG. 4 when theimage processing apparatus 10 is transitioned into the sleep mode. If equation (3) does not hold, power is continuously supplied to thePLL circuit 78 as illustrated inFIG. 5 when theimage processing apparatus 10 transitions into the sleep mode. - If the storage capacity RX of the
reception buffer 74 is 2 KB and the link speed LS is 100BASE-T (100 Mbit/s) as illustrated inFIG. 4 , solution tFULL (μs) of equation (1) is as follows: -
tFULL(μs)={2K×8}/100=163.84 μs - If time tPLL as the condition parameter 3 is 100 μs, and time tSR as the condition parameter 4 is 1.5 μs, solution tSM of equation (2) is as follows:
-
tSM(μs)=100+1.5=101.5 μs - The determination of equation (3) indicates that tFULL>tSM holds as described with reference to a timing diagram of
FIG. 6 , and thus equation (3) holds. Data are reliably stored on thesystem memory 64 in response to the reception of the data via thecommunication line network 12 even if thePLL circuit 78 is shut off from power during the sleep mode. - If the storage capacity RX of the
reception buffer 74 is 2 KB and the link speed LS is 1000BASE-T (1000 Mbit/s) as illustrated inFIG. 5 , solution tFULL (μs) of equation (1) is as follows: -
tFULL(μs)={2K×8}/1000=16.384 μs - If time tPLL as the condition parameter 3 is 100 μs, and time tSR as the condition parameter 4 is 1.5 μs, solution tSM of equation (2) is as follows:
-
tSM(μs)=100+1.5=101.5 μs - The determination of equation (3) indicates that tFULL<tSM holds as described with reference to the timing diagram of
FIG. 6 , and equation (3) does not hold. - The
PLL circuit 78 is not shut off from power and remains continuously supplied with power. - According to the first exemplary embodiment, the
central controller 22 includes thememory controller 60 and thenetwork controller 58. Thememory controller 60, including thePLL circuit 78 that generates a clock signal, controls writing information to and reading information from thesystem memory 64 in accordance with the clock signal. Thenetwork controller 58 controls exchanging of information between thememory controller 60 and thecommunication line network 12 and includes thereception buffer 74 that temporarily stores the information. Thecentral controller 22 may receive the information via thecommunication line network 12 during the sleep mode. - Whether to continue or shut off supplying power to the
PLL circuit 78 during the sleep mode is predetermined by referencing time tFULL thereception buffer 74 takes before reaching the full state thereof, and time tSM thesystem memory 64 takes before being enable to store the information stored on thereception buffer 74. This arrangement controls reception delay. - A second exemplary embodiment is described with reference to
FIGS. 7 through 9 . In the discussion of the second exemplary embodiment, elements identical to those described with reference to the first exemplary embodiment are designated with the same reference numerals, and the discussion thereof is omitted. - For a high power-saving efficiency, the
PLL circuit 78 is desirably in a power shutoff state during the sleep mode because thePLL circuit 78 consumes high power among the elements forming the central controller 22 (seeFIGS. 8 and 9 ). However, time tPLL (rise time) from when thePLL circuit 78 starts to access thesystem memory 64 to when thePLL circuit 78 resumes the operation thereof greatly affects time tSM thesystem memory 64 takes to resume the operation thereof. - In view of a high power-saving effect of the
PLL circuit 78, thePLL circuit 78 is shut off from power during the sleep mode or the oscillation operation thereof is suspended during the sleep mode. Multiple reception buffers 74A and 74B different in storage capacity may be arranged. Thefirst reception buffer 74A, and thesecond reception buffer 74B may be used alone or in combination in accordance with the link speed LS of the communication line determined by thecable 52 connected to thePHY 50. - The feature of the second exemplary embodiment is that the
PLL circuit 78 in thememory controller 60 is shut off from power or stops oscillating when theimage processing apparatus 10 transitions into the sleep mode. - As illustrated in
FIG. 7 , thenetwork controller 58 includes tworeception buffers - The
first reception buffer 74A has a storage capacity RX(A) of 2 KB. Thesecond reception buffer 74B has a storage capacity RX of 16 KB. Those buffers are supplied with or shut off from power independent of each other. - Whether the condition of equation (3) is satisfied or not is determined based on the
condition parameter 1 that is the storage capacity RX of thereception buffer 74 and thecondition parameter 2 that is the link speed LS of thecommunication line network 12 gotten from the register in thePHY 50. - If the determination result indicates that equation (3) holds, the data reception via the
communication line network 12 is not affected during the sleep mode even with thesecond reception buffer 74B shut off from power in the transition into the sleep mode as illustrated inFIG. 8 . If equation (3) does not hold, thesecond reception buffer 74B is continuously supplied with power in the transition into the sleep mode as illustrated inFIG. 9 . Thefirst reception buffer 74A is shut off from power. Alternatively, thefirst reception buffer 74A may be continuously supplied with power. - If the storage capacity RX(A) of the
reception buffer 74A is 2 KB and the link speed LS is 100BASE-T (100 Mbit/s) as illustrated inFIG. 8 , solution tFULL (μs) of equation (1) is as follows: -
tFULL(μs)={2K×8}/100=163.84 μs - If time tPLL as the condition parameter 3 is 100 μs, and time tSR as the condition parameter 4 is 1.5 μs, solution tSM of equation (2) is as follows:
-
tSM(μs)=100+1.5=101.5 μs - The determination of equation (3) indicates that tFULL>tSM holds as described with reference to the timing diagram of
FIG. 6 . The use of thesecond reception buffer 74B is unnecessary, and thesecond reception buffer 74B is shut off from power in the transition into the sleep mode. If data are received via thecommunication line network 12 during the sleep mode, thesystem memory 64 is enabled to store the data even with thePLL circuit 78 shut off from power. - If the storage capacity RX(A) of the
reception buffer 74A is 2 KB and the link speed LS is 1000BASE-T (1000 Mbit/s) as illustrated inFIG. 9 , solution tFULL (μs) of equation (1) is as follows: -
tFULL(μs)={2K×8}/1000=16.384 μs - If time tPLL as the condition parameter 3 is 100 μs, and time tSR as the condition parameter 4 is 1.5 μs, solution tSM of equation (2) is as follows:
-
tSM(μs)=100+1.5=101.5 μs - The determination of equation (3) indicates that tFULL<tSM holds as described with reference to the timing diagram of
FIG. 6 , and equation (3) does not hold. - Time tFULL is recalculated using the storage capacity RX(B) of the
second reception buffer 74B. -
tFULL(μs)={16K×8}/1000=131.10 μs - The determination of equation (3) indicates that tFULL>tSM holds. The
second reception buffer 74B is supplied with power in the transition into the sleep mode. If data are received via thecommunication line network 12, thesystem memory 64 is enabled to store the data even with thePLL circuit 78 shut off from power. Thefirst reception buffer 74A may be shut off from power. - A third exemplary embodiment is described with reference to
FIGS. 10 through 12 . In the discussion of the third exemplary embodiment, elements identical to those described with reference to the first embodiment are designated with the same reference numerals, and the discussion thereof is omitted. - For a high power-saving efficiency, the
PLL circuit 78 is desirably to be set in a power shutoff state during the sleep mode because thePLL circuit 78 consumes high power among the elements forming the central controller 22 (seeFIGS. 11 and 12 ). However, time tPLL (rise time) from when thePLL circuit 78 starts to access thesystem memory 64 to when thePLL circuit 78 resumes the operation thereof greatly affects time tSM thesystem memory 64 takes to resume the operation thereof. - In view of a high power-saving effect of the
PLL circuit 78, thePLL circuit 78 is shut off from power during the sleep mode or the oscillation operation thereof is suspended during the sleep mode. In addition, thetransmission buffer 76 may be used as a second reception buffer temporarily in order to render time tFULL longer than time tFULL of thesingle reception buffer 74. - The feature of the third exemplary embodiment is that the
PLL circuit 78 in thememory controller 60 is shut off from power or the oscillation operation thereof is suspended in the transition into the sleep mode. - As illustrated in
FIG. 10 , a switchingcircuit 80 is connected downstream of thetransmission buffer 76 and upstream of thereception buffer 74, both arranged in thenetwork controller 58, and aswitching circuit 82 is connected to downstream of thereception buffer 74 and upstream of thetransmission buffer 76. Thetransmission buffer 76 is thus used as a reception buffer storage unit as appropriate. - The
reception buffer 74 has a storage capacity RX of 2 KB. Thetransmission buffer 76 has a storage capacity TX of 16 KB. Those buffers are supplied with or shut off from power independent of each other. - Whether the condition of equation (3) is satisfied or not is determined based on the
condition parameter 1 that is the storage capacity RX of thereception buffer 74 and thecondition parameter 2 that is the link speed LS of thecommunication line network 12 gotten from the register in thePHY 50. - If the determination result indicates that equation (3) holds, the data reception via the
communication line network 12 is not affected during the sleep mode even with thetransmission buffer 76 shut off from power in the transition into the sleep mode as illustrated inFIG. 11 . If equation (3) does not hold, thetransmission buffer 76 is continuously supplied with power in the transition into the sleep mode as illustrated inFIG. 12 . - If the storage capacity RX of the
reception buffer 74 is 2 KB and the link speed LS is 100BASE-T (100 Mbit/s) as illustrated inFIG. 11 , solution tFULL (μs) of equation (1) is as follows: -
tFULL(μs)={2K×8}/100=163.84 μs - If time tPLL as the condition parameter 3 is 100 μs, and time tSR as the condition parameter 4 is 1.5 μs, solution tSM of equation (2) is as follows:
-
tSM(μs)=100+1.5=101.5 μs - The determination of equation (3) indicates that tFULL>tSM holds as described with reference to the timing diagram of
FIG. 6 . The use of thetransmission buffer 76 is unnecessary, and thetransmission buffer 76 is shut off from power in the transition into the sleep mode. If data are received via thecommunication line network 12 during the sleep mode, thesystem memory 64 is enabled to store the data even with thePLL circuit 78 shut off from power. - If the storage capacity RX(A) of the
reception buffer 74 is 2 KB and the link speed LS is 1000BASE-T (1000 Mbit/s) as illustrated inFIG. 12 , solution tFULL (μs) of equation (1) is as follows: -
tFULL(μs)={2K×8}/1000=16.384 μs - If time tPLL as the condition parameter 3 is 100 μs, and time tSR as the condition parameter 4 is 1.5 μs, solution tSM of equation (2) is as follows:
-
tSM(μs)=100+1.5=101.5 μs - The determination of equation (3) indicates that tFULL<tSM holds as described with reference to the timing diagram of
FIG. 6 , and equation (3) does not hold. - Time tFULL is recalculated using the storage capacity TX of the transmission buffer 76 (to be used as the storage capacity RX).
-
tFULL(μs)={16K×8}/1000=131.10 μs - The determination of equation (3) indicates that tFULL>tSM holds. The
transmission buffer 76 is supplied with power in the transition into the sleep mode. If data are received via thecommunication line network 12, thesystem memory 64 is enabled to store the data even with thePLL circuit 78 shut off from power. Thereception buffer 74 may be shut off from power. - The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims (13)
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JP2011202397A JP5799699B2 (en) | 2011-09-15 | 2011-09-15 | Power supply control device, management control device, image processing device, power supply control program |
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US10078360B2 (en) * | 2015-04-14 | 2018-09-18 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium |
CN110381224A (en) * | 2018-04-12 | 2019-10-25 | 夏普株式会社 | The control method of image processing apparatus and image processing apparatus |
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JP2016120621A (en) * | 2014-12-24 | 2016-07-07 | 株式会社リコー | Arrangement structure of main power switch of apparatus and image formation device having the same |
JP6565242B2 (en) * | 2015-03-19 | 2019-08-28 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Power saving control device |
WO2017188019A1 (en) * | 2016-04-28 | 2017-11-02 | ソニー株式会社 | Information processing device and information processing method |
JP6794852B2 (en) * | 2017-02-02 | 2020-12-02 | コニカミノルタ株式会社 | Image processing equipment, power saving methods, and computer programs |
JP7143797B2 (en) * | 2019-03-20 | 2022-09-29 | 株式会社デンソー | Power control device for in-vehicle camera module |
JP2022078999A (en) * | 2019-03-25 | 2022-05-26 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | Data processing apparatus |
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JP2013065975A (en) | 2013-04-11 |
CN103118213A (en) | 2013-05-22 |
JP5799699B2 (en) | 2015-10-28 |
CN103118213B (en) | 2017-03-01 |
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